A NEW war was declared on car clampers in Birmingham today, with the city's consumer boss saying they should be outlawed.

Coun Neil Eustace, chairman of Birmingham's Public Protection committee, vowed to use every legal means at his disposal to stop clampers holding motorists to ransom.

"If I had my way it would be totally banned," he said.

He claimed clampers were currently allowed to "demand money with menaces" and pledged to run them out of business. His trading standards officers are using tax, fraud and business laws to crack down on clampers because the trade itself is completely legal.

A council report said that in several key city centre areas officers have managed to cut clampers' income from £75,000 per week down to £10,000, based on an average £400 per vehicle towed away.

But the problem is so widespread that action needed to be taken to either ban the trade or force clampers to place reasonable limits on fines and make them accept credit cards, cheques and issue receipts.

Coun Eustace has asked for a review of the law but his plea has so far fallen on deaf ears because Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker told councillors in a letter: "No decision has been made.

"In the event we decide to proceed with a review, a consultation document will be issued."

But Coun Eustace (Lib Dem, Stechford and Yardley North) said: "There are no laws to set limits on fees, the size of signs or the time before a car can be towed away.

"The Government is allowing clampers to demand money with menaces."

The council is using existing laws to catch out rogue firms and recently mounted a high-profile swoop on a firm whose tax and business records are being probed.

Three other companies are under investigation under business and tax regulations and cases are being considered by the city solicitor.

One action is to find out if clampers even have the landowners' permission to operate but with complex tenancy agreements in many areas this has proved difficult.

A clamping advice card is being made available to motorists and can be downloaded from the Birmingham City Council website.